Human chain across Hong Kong expresses solidarity and determination, say protesters

The action was planned to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the “Baltic Way,” a historically significant peaceful demonstration against Soviet occupation. On August 23, 1989, an estimated two million people formed a 600 kilometer (372 miles) long human chain across the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Starting from around 8 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ET), thousands of Hong Kong protesters began holding hands, forming chains along three subway lines to form the “Hong Kong Way.”
In a flyer shared over social media, protesters said it is not intended to disrupt traffic or the public but is “an iconic move that reinforces Hong Kong’s solidarity and determination in hope of making our voices heard on the international stage.”
The human chain is one of several events planned in what will be the 12th consecutive weekend of protests in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
On Saturday, protesters have planned a “stress test” of Hong Kong’s international airport, which will involve traveling to the airport using all, and any, means available to them, to put pressure on airport transport and create a surge in traffic. Protesters have been urged by organizers to go as slow as possible to create maximum disruption.
However, a High Court order on Friday extended an injunction order prohibiting protesters from entering the airport.
Also planned are protests in Kwun Tong, in Kowloon, on Saturday and others in Tseun Wan and Kwai Ching districts on Sunday.
The protests this weekend are coming off the back of a massive demonstration on August 18 that attempted to restore peace after weeks of violence.
Organizers said 1.7 million protesters of all ages joined the march through the downtown areas, transforming much of the city center into a sea of slow moving umbrellas.
Permanent protest: Hundreds of demonstrators in Hong Kong are getting tattoos

The demonstration was widely viewed as a test of the movement’s durability following weeks of escalating violence between police and protesters. It followed ugly scenes at the city’s airport, when a group of protesters detained and beat two men they accused of being undercover police officers, and violently clashed with riot police.
This week was one of the first peaceful weeks since the start of the protests but police say harassment has moved online.
Speaking at a background briefing on Friday, several senior police officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that members of the police have been doxxed — their private information including family photos, posted in chat rooms and on social media.
Calling the tactic “a kind of psychological war” police officials said they had arrested 16 people on suspicion of disclosing personal data without consent and causing harm, and unauthorized access to a computer.
“It’s disturbing because a lot of people are leaking police information,” one officer said. “There is an online radicalization now (to) the whole movement and that is worrying. In any country, this sounds like extremism. Not like a protest. This is not protest. This is not peaceful.”
The protest movement, which began in June over a now-shelved extradition bill, has since expanded to include calls for greater democracy and government accountability.
Hong Kong’s international image has suffered as a result of the ongoing protests, particularly disruption at the airport, and the government admitted last week that the economy is suffering.
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Silicon Valley has a powerful defender in antitrust fight: the Koch network

Now, one powerful organization is coming to the tech industry’s defense on the issue: the conservative Koch network.
Americans for Prosperity, a political advocacy group backed by billionaire Charles Koch, is currently running a two-week long targeted online advertising campaign calling on members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to “oppose any effort to use antitrust laws to break up America’s innovative tech companies.”
The online ads are running in the home states of each of the 22 senators on the committee, primarily on Facebook and Twitter. Those who click on the ads will be directed to a page where they can sign a letter to the committee members.
Jesse Blumenthal, who leads tech and innovation for the Koch network, told CNN Business that the organization has been tracking the antitrust issue “for awhile” and speaking in person with members of the Judiciary Committee on both sides of the aisle.
“Antitrust is one of the most powerful tools that the government has. We worry about the politicization of that tool,” Blumenthal said. “It ought to be used to benefit consumers and not as a political prop.”
The ad campaign, which was first reported by Politico, comes amid a sea change in the relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington DC. Less than a decade ago, President Barack Obama held an intimate dinner with top executives from Facebook, Google and other tech companies. Today, a right-leaning organization is effectively defending the interests of these same companies against an aggressive proposal from a Democratic presidential candidate.
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg calls for more regulation of the internet

“Oh look — the Koch brothers don’t like my ideas,” Sen. Warren tweeted in response to the ad campaign. “Apparently they’re horrified about any effort to try and rein in the economic and political power of giant corporations. I’m shocked.”
This shifting political dynamic comes after a bruising two year period in which key tech companies have faced sharp criticism across the political spectrum for failing to prevent the spread of fake news and misinformation, as well as for their data privacy practices and amassing too much power.
After Sen. Warren touted her plan on Twitter (TWTR) last month, she was retweeted by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who wrote that “Big Tech has way too much power to silence Free Speech.” In February, the Federal Trade Commission launched a task force to track “anticompetitive conduct” in the tech industry. The FTC said this task force may review tech mergers that have already been approved.
Against this backdrop, tech industry trade groups are not averse to having an influential organization push back against what they predictably consider to be unsound policy — even if that organization is ideologically distinct from liberal Silicon Valley and is said to have played a key role in undermining political efforts to curb climate change.
“To the extent that Koch or others are willing to engage in substantive, constructive dialogue on these issues, they are welcome,” said Ed Black, president and CEO of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a trade group that counts Facebook (FB), Google (GOOG) and Amazon (AMZN) as members.
Theranos whistleblowers launch tech ethics venture

Theranos whistleblowers launch tech ethics venture

“I personally thought it was cool,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, which represents more than 2,200 tech companies.
The hope, according to these officials, is that the Koch network may be able to broaden the dialogue on the antitrust issue by talking about it from a different perspective and, in the words of Shapiro, bring a certain “hey, wake up Republicans” factor to the issue.
Blumenthal said the Koch network has talked to “lots of folks in the tech industry,” but stressed that it is “not in any sort of coordinated campaign,” or trying to speak on behalf of tech companies so much as pursue what it sees as a principled cause.
It’s about “what is the appropriate role for government and what sort of conditions lead to the highest degree of innovation,” Blumenthal says.
Facebook declined to comment for this story. Representatives for Amazon and Google did not respond to a request for comment.
Update: This story has been updated to better identify the Koch brother currently backing AFP.
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In photos: Koch and Co.

Billionaire brothers Charles Koch and David Koch typically donate millions of dollars to GOP candidates they like, helping them try to defeat their Democratic counterparts. Let’s take a look at some of the politicians they’ve helped in the past, as well as politicians who have been outspoken about their distaste for them.
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David Koch is pro-choice, supports gay rights; just not Democrats

“I’m basically a libertarian. And I’m a conservative on economic matters and I’m a social liberal,” he told ABC’s Barbara Walters in an interview that aired on “This Week.”
Koch, who supports gay rights and women’s right to choose, said if candidates he gives to don’t share those ideals, “That’s their problem. I do have those views.”
“What I want these candidates to do is to support a balanced budget,” Koch said. “I’m really focused intensely on economic and fiscal issues, because if those go bad the country as a whole suffers terribly.”
Koch and his brother, Charles, are top executives and board members of Koch Industries, a multinational corporation that is largely involved in manufacturing, energy, trade and investments. Collectively, the Koch brothers have spent millions of dollars of their personal wealth to promote a small government, free-market agenda.
Often criticized by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, for his vast campaign spending, Koch said he plays fair and by the rules of the game.
“I contribute to public candidate campaigns and there is a federal limit on how much you can contribute to each individual candidate,” Koch said. “They have a law in that regard and I feel that I’m doing it properly.
Who are the Koch brothers?
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Kochs take ‘breather’ from politics, launch new education initiative

The still-unnamed education initiative will operate in five states and affect 15 million students, Brian Hooks, a top Koch lieutenant, told donors on the final day of a three-day retreat at a luxury resort in the California desert.
Koch officials would not identify the states they will target nor the specific objectives of the new initiative, but it comes as the country has been roiled by teacher strikes — most recently a six-day walkout by educators in Los Angeles over pay, class sizes and support services.
Many Koch donors have supported school-choice efforts in their communities, but Hooks cast the new push as avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Koch officials described the effort as including a focus on curriculum and technology.
“The teachers who have expressed frustration in the last few months are good people,” Hooks said of striking educators. “They are expressing legitimate concerns, but the current approach means nobody wins.”
“We see an opportunity to come into this conversation and really shake things up,” he added.
Hooks also pledged to build a broad coalition to drive support to find a permanent fix for the so-called “Dreamers.”
Charles Koch urges businesses to hire ex-convicts following new prison-reform law

The libertarian-leaning network, launched by the Kansas industrialist in 2003, has rivaled the Republican Party in size and scope in recent years. But over the weekend, officials sought to make a sharp pivot away from the political activism that made Charles Koch and his younger brother David household names and a toxic brand for Democrats. (Koch officials announced David Koch’s retirement from Koch Industries and the network last year, citing his declining health.)
Instead, the network is in the middle of a kinder, gentler re-brand. In session after session, network operatives emphasized bridge-building over partisanship.
“We’ve evolved to feel that politics is necessary but not sufficient for the good society,” said longtime donor Frank Baxter, who was US ambassador to Uruguay in George W. Bush’s administration.
Art Pope, another veteran of the Koch world and one of the most powerful figures in North Carolina Republican politics, said it was “time to take a breather” from elections and highlight other aspects of Koch’s vast policy and philanthropic interests.
“2020 is still a ways away,” he told reporters on Monday.
In sessions open to journalists, Koch officials celebrated their wins — working with Democrats and the Trump administration to pass a sentencing and prison overhaul law last year — and made no public mention of recent political setbacks or their very public clash last year with President Donald Trump over his hardline stances on trade. As it did in the 2016 election, the network has decided so far against spending money to help Trump in his 2020 re-election bid.
Instead of touting their political might, as they have at past retreats, Koch officials showcased their growing philanthropic activity. For instance, they announced a $3 million grant to Phoenix, which is a string of fitness gyms and recovery programs free and open to anyone who has been clean of drugs and alcohol for 48 hours. Donors sampled hand lotions and sniffed “citrus wood” candles made by survivors of human trafficking and prostitution. The women work at Thistle Farms, a Nashville nonprofit partially funded by Stand Together, one of the network’s philanthropic ventures.
StoryCorps, famed for the candid conversations it records and often airs on National Public Radio, parked its silver Airstream trailer alongside the resort’s palm-fringed pool.
The Charles Koch Foundation helps underwrite a program, dubbed “One Small Step,” by StoryCorps founder Dave Isay that tapes conversations with people across the political divide.
Koch officials avoid confrontation at muted donor gathering

Koch officials avoid confrontation at muted donor gathering

The network remains a potent influence on the right. It has spent millions to promote a Republican tax cut that became law in 2017 and is backing efforts to appoint conservatives to the federal bench.
And behind closed doors in recent days, donors still talked politics. Pope said one session examined polling data and demographic trends, including a rising interest in socialism among younger voters.
“I’m alarmed by it,” he said in an interview with CNN and other journalists. “The younger generation doesn’t remember what socialism is like.”
Stacy Hock, a philanthropist from Austin, Texas, attending her fourth summit, said the emphasis on community work by Koch-aligned donors is “an opportunity to break down some of those preconceived notions about what we stand for.”
But she acknowledged that donors aren’t likely to fully retreat from Republican politics anytime soon.
“At this point in time, it’s still predominantly Republican candidates who overlap the most with our ideals of limited government,” Hock said. “This group is very open to exceptions to that commonality, but it just hasn’t been the case in recent history.”
The Koch network opens portions of its donor summits to a limited number of journalists but imposes restrictions, such as prohibiting reporters from identifying donors without their permission.
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David Koch stepping down from Koch Industries, Americans for Prosperity Foundation due to declining health

In a letter to all employees of Koch Industries sent Tuesday, David’s brother Charles Koch, who serves as chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, said that issues that led to a 2016 hospitalization have not been resolved, and David’s “health has continued to deteriorate.” He did not provide further details about his brother’s condition.
“As a result, he is unable to be involved in business and other organizational activities. Because of this, David will be retiring from his responsibilities at Koch and other organizations,” the letter states.
Outside of Koch Industries, the brothers are deeply involved in philanthropy and politics, bolstering conservative organizations that include the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, Freedom Partners, and the Cato Institute. Their mission of advancing a small-government, libertarian-leaning message has expanded to include large donations to colleges and universities as well as advocating for criminal justice reform. They have also dedicated funds toward medical research and the arts.
Following the Koch Industries announcement, Americans for Prosperity Foundation announced that David, 78, would be resigning from its board.
“Due to health reasons, David Koch will be resigning from the board of the AFP Foundation. We greatly appreciate his vital role on the board & all that he has done to help build a strong foundation for our future success. We wish him and his family well,” a message from board of directors member Mark Holden said.
David was the Libertarian Party’s vice presidential candidate for the 1980 presidential election. He and his brother Charles also founded Citizens for a Sound Economy, a predecessor organization to the advocacy group FreedomWorks.
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’13 Reasons Why’ and other shows to watch

Last season’s cliffhanger finale sets the stage for more drama. The show has already been renewed for a fourth season, however, it will also be the last. “13 Reasons Why” is streaming now on Netflix.
If teenage angst isn’t your idea of weekend escape, check out some of these other options below.

“This Way Up”

Taking a binge day? Watch “This Way Up,” which premiered on Hulu on August 21. A hit in the UK, the comedy was created by Aisling Bea, an Irish actress and comedian. She plays Aine, a woman we see being released from a rehab facility after a nervous breakdown. If you liked “Catastrophe” on Amazon you’ll dig this show. Plus, the sister who picks her up from rehab is played by Sharon Horgan.

“The Affair”

Don’t give up on “The Affair.” Season 5 of the Showtime series returns Sunday. The Season 4 finale saw Cole, played by Joshua Jackson, and his daughter, Joanie, driving off into the sunset after the shocking death of his ex-wife Alison, played by Ruth Wilson. Maura Tierney is still in Los Angeles, and now dating a movie star, while Dominic West hints he wants her back.

“On Becoming a God in Central Florida”

New show alert. “On Becoming a God in Central Florida” stars Kirsten Dunst as we’ve never seen her before. The show premieres on Showtime at 10 P.M. and features Dunst as Krystal Stubbs, an Orlando waterpark employee and suburban mom whose husband, played by Alexander Skarsgård, is involved in a major money scheme.
MTV Video Music Awards are Monday night. Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello are among the slated performers, as are Lizzo, Lil Nas X, and Taylor Swift, who is set to open the show.
See the full list of nominees here.
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David Koch, billionaire businessman, dies

Charles Koch, the CEO of the family’s industrial conglomerate Koch Industries, announced the death Friday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my brother David. Anyone who worked with David surely experienced his giant personality and passion for life,” the elder Koch said in a statement.
David Koch retired from the company and the Koch political operations in 2018, citing health reasons.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
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David Koch, billionaire businessman and influential GOP donor, dies

Charles Koch, the CEO of the family’s industrial conglomerate Koch Industries, announced the death Friday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my brother David. Anyone who worked with David surely experienced his giant personality and passion for life,” the elder Koch said in a statement.
David Koch retired from the company and the Koch political operations in 2018, citing health reasons.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
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MIT says it’s reviewing donations from Epstein

The school also will donate that amount to a charity benefiting Epstein’s victims or other sexual abuse victims, President L. Rafael Reif said in an email.
The review will focus on the facts around the donations, made over 20 years, and how the school handles contributions and can improve that process, Reif said.
Jeffrey Epstein is dead. His cases could live on for years

Epstein was awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking involving underage girls when he killed himself by hanging in a New York jail cell this month.
“I offer a profound and humble apology” to the victims on behalf of the administration, Reif said. “With hindsight, we recognize with shame and distress that we allowed MIT to contribute to the elevation of his reputation, which in turn served to distract from his horrifying acts. No apology can undo that.”
The donations went to the MIT Media Lab or Seth Lloyd, a professor of mechanical engineering, according to Reif’s email.
Lloyd and Media Lab Director Joi Ito wrote public apologies to Epstein’s victims and others for “judgments made over a series of years,” Reif said.
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